Valeri Nichushkin Discussion

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

So he specifically says which teams he wants to play for, then says he won't come over unless he's guaranteed to play in the NHL?

Pass. I wouldn't waste a single pick on this kid.

But, but, Youtube skillz! Why give credence to anything else but his sweet moves?!

This is exactly why you pass on a guy like this. Lots of talent, but just way too many iffs and buts whether he plays for you 5 or 10 years from now. We can't afford that type of risk....not with so many good players to pick from.

[Wronskian]

Originally Posted by united

Igor Eronko ‏@IgorEronko
Valeri Nichushkin says he likes #Flyers & #Rangers most of all, wants to spend summer in NA to train hard #NHLdraft2013

Igor Kleyner ‏@IgorKleyner
Nichushkin is not doing himself any favors re #NHLdraft2013 by stating he will only go to NA to play in the NHL, not minors
Nichushkin's plan for summer is a short vacation in Turkey after U18 WJC and then training all summer long in the US

I think more than ever his draft interviews will be paramount in determining his draft position. I'm not a big fan of attitudes like this though.. I'll take the hardworking Sean Monahan instead!

[Canada 02]

who are these two guys? Russian sports journalists, or random twitter dudes?

also, some context would help. Q - "Who are your favourite NHL teams? A - " Flyers or Rangers"
Not really a red flag

Also playing only in the NHL and not the minors isn't a big surprise. Make 6 or 7 figures in the KHL, or make $70K riding buses. I imagine many top euro draftees have a European escape clause

[moon]

The first guy is a journalist not sure about the second guy.

Not sure if they are reliable as Garrioch is a journalist and the stuff he posts is crap.

[Dagger]

Not sure what's overly wrong with what Nichushkin is saying. It's good that he's being open and honest about his intentions, and I know that if I was playing in a level higher than the AHL at the age of 17 at home, I'd rather stay there until I'm ready than live in the Wilkes Barre Scrantons and Rochesters of the world. I'd say if he's not going to play in the NHL until 20-21 that I'd rather have him playing against men and some guys good enough to play in the NHL than sitting on a line with Ben Street.

Besides, when Tarasenko came over he was already NHL ready and putting up very good numbers, Kuznetsov is supposed to do the same thing when he comes over, and Nichushkin is arguably the best of the 3. Is it awful if we wait 3 years and then have a 50-60 point player on our hands? Is that not roughly what you'd expect from him if he played a year in the AHL, low minutes in his rookie year and then bursting out year 3?

[moon]

Originally Posted by Dagger

Not sure what's overly wrong with what Nichushkin is saying. It's good that he's being open and honest about his intentions, and I know that if I was playing in a level higher than the AHL at the age of 17 at home, I'd rather stay there until I'm ready than live in the Wilkes Barre Scrantons and Rochesters of the world. I'd say if he's not going to play in the NHL until 20-21 that I'd rather have him playing against men and some guys good enough to play in the NHL than sitting on a line with Ben Street.

Besides, when Tarasenko came over he was already NHL ready and putting up very good numbers, Kuznetsov is supposed to do the same thing when he comes over, and Nichushkin is arguably the best of the 3. Is it awful if we wait 3 years and then have a 50-60 point player on our hands? Is that not roughly what you'd expect from him if he played a year in the AHL, low minutes in his rookie year and then bursting out year 3?

I think the Philly/NYR comments are a little more scary than the staying in Russia comments but even those comments are a concern as it shows that he seems to be more concerned about himself rather than what the team thinks is best for his development. Not sure that is the kind of guy you want on your team or a guy that sounds like he will buy into the team system if it isn't what he wants.

Sure it is fine if everything works out great but what if you get a guy that for 3 years was allowed to do whatever he wanted because the KHL team wanted him in the line-up? A guy that didn't play defense, didn't learn a team game and didn't have any responsibilities?

[Wronskian]

If we draft him are we obligated to pickup another Russian player to ease the transition? I feel like that is some major sticking point with young players coming over. Just would seem like a major culture change, I don't even remember the last Russian we had.

[moon]

Originally Posted by Wronskian

If we draft him are we obligated to pickup another Russian player to ease the transition? I feel like that is some major sticking point with young players coming over. Just would seem like a major culture change, I don't even remember the last Russian we had.

We have Babchuk right now so he probably qualifies the last Russian we had.

[Stay Golden]

I find it so difficult to put a finger on Russian players for a few reasons. Measuring the level of competition in their leagues that do not feature JMO the same brand of physical play in North America and such a short amount of games the Russians play.

Also the 50/50 coin flip do the just stay in the KHL if $ is thrown their way.
If Nichushkin played in the CHL like some Russians have i feel much more at ease considering him as a Flames pick.
Getting these KHL Russians to leave the KHL in the past is quite a task for NHL Gm's.

18 games in the KHL doesn't seem like much to measure this vital pick.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Wronskian

If we draft him are we obligated to pickup another Russian player to ease the transition? I feel like that is some major sticking point with young players coming over. Just would seem like a major culture change, I don't even remember the last Russian we had.

Overpay Gonchar for 1 season. He'd help with this kid (if he bails on Russia and comes over) and Brodie's development.

[Fire]

Originally Posted by moon

I think the Philly/NYR comments are a little more scary than the staying in Russia comments

I disagree, ask any draft eligible kid what their favourite NHL teams are and they will tell you. Not a big deal. Saying that I would still avoid him unless he is somehow available with the Blues pick.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Fire

I disagree, ask any draft eligible kid what their favourite NHL teams are and they will tell you. Not a big deal. Saying that I would still avoid him unless he is somehow available with the Blues pick.

The smart ones don't I would say. Or they would phrase it differently, "I grew up as an Oilers fan but soon I'll be a fan of whichever team drafts me." These kids are coached by their agents to say what the teams want to hear.

People were blaming the Flames that they should have known Erixon wanted to be a Ranger before we picked him. Nichushkin saying he likes Philly and the Rangers should be a bit of a red flag for us. I'd imagine if they interview him that they would ask him what he meant.

You don't want to draft your highest pick in years in a deep draft only to have him bolt at the first opportunity to a big market US team. We want the kid we pick this year to potentially be the face of the franchise for a large chunk of his career. We don't want a kid who could go back to Russia at the first sign of adversity or who ditches the city at his first chance at UFA status instead of signing long term.

[Travis Munroe]

We have seen it happen before.... translation gives a completely different story.
I don't know if he spoke in russian although I wouldnt put to much into the picking a team to play for. "My favorite teams growing up were the flyers and rangers" can easily be adjusted to "I like the Flyers/Rangers the most" which will most likely read " I only want to play for the flyers/rangers" in a couple weeks when a new story is needed!

[moon]

Originally Posted by Fire

I disagree, ask any draft eligible kid what their favourite NHL teams are and they will tell you. Not a big deal. Saying that I would still avoid him unless he is somehow available with the Blues pick.

Perhaps I read too much into it based on his previous comments and other comments that day.

Sounded to me like it was much more than favorite teams and moreso teams he would be willing to go to.

[robaur]

I think the ideal situation would be to maybe try doing the following.

If the Flames end up with the 6th overall pick in the draft.

Then use the 6th pick to draft Lindholm.

Then trade Cammalleri + STL 1st rd pick + 2nd rd next year for 7th overall pick.

Use the 7th overall pick to draft Nichushkin.

Going forward, you have a top line of Baertschi-Lindholm-Nichushkin

Damn that sounds way too good to be true. #OneCanDream

[Brewmaster]

Here's the problems I see with Calgary drafting high profile Russians such as Nichushkin:

-They can make more money playing at home in the KHL at a young age than the NHL, so they need added motivation to come across.

-A big reason for coming over to play in the NHL is the lifestyle. Cities like LA, New York, Philly, Chicago, Washington and Boston can all offer this. Canadian cities and smaller markets in the states just don't have the same appeal.

-There will always be some risk that the player will bail out on a rebuilding franchise and go back to playing in the KHL. This is especially true of the guys that already started their career in the KHL and didn't come over to North America for junior.

[Fire]

Originally Posted by moon

Perhaps I read too much into it based on his previous comments and other comments that day.

Sounded to me like it was much more than favorite teams and moreso teams he would be willing to go to.

Yeah hard to say. Lost in translation maybe?

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by moon

I think the Philly/NYR comments are a little more scary than the staying in Russia comments but even those comments are a concern as it shows that he seems to be more concerned about himself rather than what the team thinks is best for his development. Not sure that is the kind of guy you want on your team or a guy that sounds like he will buy into the team system if it isn't what he wants.

Sure it is fine if everything works out great but what if you get a guy that for 3 years was allowed to do whatever he wanted because the KHL team wanted him in the line-up? A guy that didn't play defense, didn't learn a team game and didn't have any responsibilities?

I agree that the NY/Philly comments are more concerning.

The other comments aren't such a big deal though. European players often prefer staying in Europe if they aren't going to be in the NHL. It's not just a Russian thing. Heck, even Giordano preferred it.

[Walter Reed]

http://www.hockeysfuture.com/article...top-prospects/

[Pointman]

I found the russian original:

http://www.championat.com/hockey/new...ja-v-ssha.html

The correct tranlation (and my comments in brackets to make it even more clear):

What are my plans for this summer? After tourney, there will be vacation in Turkey [he never mentioned it will be "short" - it was added by twitter dudes], then I will be preparing for draft tests [he specifically mentioned draft tests, not just "training"] in US, gonna train all summer long. Going from KHL to minors? No, of course, I will not. If I will come over [that is exactly how he put it — "IF I will come over", could be misworded by jourlaist though], it will be for NHL. Just like Tarasenko did. Which teams do I follow over there? [this one is hard to translate, as it is a mix of "follow", "cheer for" and "like", but the way it was put, it was like asking for his favorite teams, NOT for the teams he's willing to play for]. Flyers and Rangers, they're decent teams.